Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2004 20:31:17 -0500
From: Rhavenlore <rhavenlore@hotmail.com>
Subject: Path of Angels Chapter Nine

This story contains Man/Boy situations. This is a work of pure
fiction, words on a page, nothing more than fictional fancy.

If you like this story please check out www.rhavenlore.com for more.


I'd like to thank everyone for the great e-mails, and Nifty for this
wonderful site.



The Path of Angels

By RHAVEN



CHAPTER NINE

I had been looking forward to this hiking trip with Sandy ever since
the boy had mentioned it to me. Now, I was dreading it. This was part
of Sandy's big secret and I was scared. I knew what he would ask me
and I knew what my answer had to be.

"It's this way." Sandy said cheerfully, oblivious to my dark mood. We
walked deep into the woods. Slowly the fresh air, the sun and the tall
trees, helped me recover a little from this doom and gloom frame of
mind.

"I hope you like this place." Sandy stopped and looked at me. My
expression must have betrayed how I was feeling.

"What's wrong?" He asked me.

"Sandy. where are we going? What do you think you can accomplish
 here?" I heard myself say.

"What. what do you mean?" He asked trying not to look ashamed.  I'm
already flooded by guilt for even speaking and now I have to explain
to Sandy what I mean.

"It's this secret you've been so busy with Sandy. I just can't. do
 it." I said, now unable to look Sandy in the eye.

"Someone told you . was it Jaron? Dammit. Daniel. I . please, you have
to ." Sandy started to cry. "We just wanted you to be our dad." He
said weakly and ran into the woods. I should have chased him down,
stopped him and told him everything would be all right. However, I
didn't move, hearing the boy speak the word hit me hard, froze my mind
and body. Why was I so scared, I had the very thought which Sandy
wanted to ask me. Hadn't I loved the feeling of taking care of these
boys? But five boys, I didn't know how to raise five boys, I didn't
know how to raise one boy, dammit. I couldn't do it, I would screw it
up, like I'd screwed up my life. The boys deserved better, than a
loser like me. Then the dark thoughts hit me. They had been using me,
toying with my emotions. No dammit, not Sandy, not Jaron or Rudy or
the twins. It was real love they felt for me and I for them.



I stumbled further into the woods, unwilling to return to the cabin to
see their disappointed faces. I couldn't stand the though them being
upset. Another reason I would make a horrible father. Father, me? They
were just kids; they didn't know what was right for them. Maybe Dr.
Coyer was right in separating them. They were too dependant on each
other, too comfortable.

I walked deeper into the woods and spotted something that didn't
belong. Something large and red. As I approached, I realized it was a
bed sheet hanging from the trees. I walked into the clearing and
froze. On the red sheet, there were drawings. Each drawing was an
illustration of my adventures with the boys, all signed; Rudy. He was
a good artist, in years to come, he would be fantastic. Rudy had
labeled each person in his drawings to identify them, but there wasn't
any need for that, I could instantly tell who was who. I loved the
pictures; Rudy had put so much love in each sketch. So many drawings
it was hard for me to take them all in, there were scenes of my first
meeting with the boys, one of our first swim. There was a drawing of
me carrying Rudy to the house when he cut his toe. I laughed weakly at
the amount of blood Rudy had drawn gushing out. A blanket was spread
out across the ground with a picnic basket. I walked around the small
clearing, looking at all the work Sandy had done here. There was a
small area where he had prepared a campfire; all the wood neatly
stacked with rounds stones circling it. With further search, I
uncovered a sleeping bag and a backpack. I'm not sure why I opened the
backpack, I already knew what Sandy had expected from all this.
However, I had to know everything. I carefully opened the backpack and
found only one item, a large scrapbook.

I lost my breath, it felt like someone had punched me in the stomach.
The title on the scrapbook was; Why We Think Daniel Caruso Would Make
A Great Dad.

For a moment, I considered throwing the book into the woods, leaving
it to the weather. I shouldn't look inside, it held nothing but more
pain for me and the boys. Slowly I opened the book and began to read.



Why I Think Daniel Caruso Would Make A Great Dad by Sandy Garrett

Daniel is a very special person. I've known this for a long time, ever
since I saw his art at the gallery when Dr. Coyer took us there. I can
't explain why I fell in love with him, it was something in his art
that moved me. But when I visited his website and saw a picture of
him, I saw something in his eyes that told me how special he was. I
know that sounds stupid, but it's true. I didn't know how much I
really loved him, until we actually met. Daniel has shown us all so
much love to each of us, as if we were really a family. When I'm with
him it's the first time I've experienced what a real home can feel
like. I can't imagine returning to Promise House, how can we go back
there when our happiness is with Daniel? He has treated each of us as
if we were special; none of us have known this kind of love, so I know
we've been pains about being around Daniel, but if we were, he never
showed it and that made us love him more.

I feel responsible for my brothers. they're not my real brothers yet.
It's hard to be strong for them, when I feel so weak. Daniel makes me
feel strong again. Plus, I think Daniel needs us, we could make him
happy again. I know we aren't perfect and everyone sees us as trouble
makers, but Daniel makes us feel perfect. We are only trouble because
we want to be a family so bad. So why should Daniel Caruso be my Dad?
In my eyes, he already is and always will be, no matter what happens.

I talked to Daniel about his life; I know how sad he's been after that
tornado. I know from reading the website, that he couldn't paint
anymore. I think that's why he needs us, he has started painting again
and I hope that's because we've made him happy. I want to be with him
forever, to help him, I couldn't stand myself if he was unhappy.

So that's why I think Daniel should be my Dad. because he already is,
he's always been my dad. It just took us a long time to find each
other.



Elegance in simplicity, no one had ever written something as beautiful
as this. I cried unable to contain the emotions Sandy's words had
invoked. I flipped through the rest of the pages, seeing that each boy
had written their own feelings down as why I should be their father.
'Love', 'special' and 'wonderful' were prominent words that caught my
eye. At the last page, Rudy had drawn a picture of us all with the
word 'Caruso Family' written at the bottom. All the boys had signed
the drawing, leaving an empty place for me, a contract in its purest
form. I couldn't read the rest of the boy's essays. Sandy had said it
all.

I held onto the scrapbook as if it was gold and headed back to the
cabin. I knew what I was going to do, what I had to do. Before I
realized it, I was running. I entered my cabin to four surprised
faces.

"What's wrong. What's going on?" Jaron almost screamed.

"Sandy fucked it up. dammit. dammit!" Edwin screamed, Edgar quickly
hugged his brother, they both started crying.

"Daniel.?" Rudy looked like he was about to faint.

"Boys. everything is all right. I've got a few things to do. I need a
little time alone." I couldn't form sentences, my mind was racing ten
steps faster than I could think. I put the scrapbook down on the table
and tried to breathe. When the boys saw the books, filled with their
deep desires, the sparkle in their eyes faded away.

"Everything is good." I said, trying to ease their fears. I couldn't
tell them what I was doing. No matter how much I wanted to tell them,
I had to wait. I couldn't get their hopes up, only to have some
unknown factor stop this dream.

"See you all later, okay? Please believe me. everything is all right."
I called out to them; they waved weakly and headed back to their
cabin. You have never seen a more pitiful looking group of boys. I
cried again after they left. It took me several minutes to compose
myself enough to pick up the cell phone. I called Kathy and told her
my plan. If anyone in this world could make this dream come true, it
was Kathy, my miracle maker. I spent over an hour on the phone with
Kathy, not that I had to convince her, but because of my determination
to see it completed. Once I hung up the cell phone, I knew it would be
successful. Kathy has never failed me before and she wouldn't now. The
fact that I had fans in big places didn't hurt either. The Governor
would be on the list of people Kathy called to speed up my wishes. All
I had to do was wait for Kathy's update call. I knew it would be
hours, no miracle happened instantly, no matter how much you wanted
it. I was taking the biggest step in my life, but without them, there
was no need to walk. If everything worked out and Kathy did her magic,
I would have a new name, I would be Dad.

God what a wonderful name! How glory fills that small simple word.



As I waited, in this all too quiet cabin, I painted. I made myself
focus on this incomplete canvas. It wasn't easy, my thought drifted to
the poor boys at their cabin, wondering their fate, probably thinking
the worse.

"Dammit Kathy call!" There wasn't any way this could happen overnight,
I didn't know the full procedure but I was sure it wouldn't be easy,
especially since I was planning on adopting five boys all at once.

Finally, the cell phone rang, scaring the crap out of me. I fumbled
with the phone nervously until I remembered how to turn it on.
 "Hello?" I said, my body shaking with dreadful thoughts of what I
would hear. Kathy was laughing, giggling, these joyous sounds made me
angry. Once she was able to speak, she told me how lucky I was to have
so many friends. All I had to do was sign the dotted line and the boys
would be mine. The boys would be mine. mine. my boys. Okay so I cried
again, today was my time to cry. Thank god for the tears, joyous,
wonderful tears. Kathy informed me that she had gotten hold of Dr.
Coyer, who actually immediately agreed and made some important calls
herself. When we left Lake Wakonda, the boys wouldn't go to Promise
House, they would leave with me to our home.

I think I thanked Kathy at least a thousand times, before I hung up
the phone. I raced outside and screamed at the top of my lungs "I DID
IT!"

Once that was out of my system, I frowned upon seeing the horizon.
Black clouds hung there, threatening my wonderful mood. To say that I'
m frightened of storms now, is an understatement. I saw lightening
explode from these clouds and gasped. This wasn't a nice rain cloud,
this was doom heading my way. I heard the phone ring again and gladly
went back into the cabin to answer it. Once again, Kathy, she first
apologized for calling, but she was dying to know if I was painting
again. I laughed at the question. Hell yes, I was painting again. We
talked as if we hadn't spoken to each other in years, not only about
my art, or the boys, but about my family and her family. I couldn't
stop talking, I was too excited and needed to talk. The weather
outside was growing worse, the beautiful bright day, dulled to gray
and I started worrying about the boys. I told Kathy I needed to go and
hung up the cell phone. The wind hit, along with the blinding rain. I
stepped to the door and tried to open it. It wasn't the storm that
held the door shut, it was my fear. Thunder roared and I ducked from
the terrifying sound. I looked at the doorknob again and told myself
it was only weather, it couldn't hurt me. The storm answered back by
attacking the house with howling winds and rain. I felt paralyzed,
only when the door burst open with a parade of wets boys rushing in
did I break this panic.

"Thank God!" I yelled as the boys piled into the cabin. "Come on, get
in here, I've got something wonderful to tell."

"We can't find Sandy! He hasn't come back from the woods!" Rudy
interrupted. I looked over the group, not sure how I hadn't noticed
that.

"He's still outside?" I panicked again, but I knew what I had to do. I
looked back at the dripping wet boys and managed to give them a
comforting smile.

"Rudy, go get everyone a towel. Jaron, I have tons of t-shirts, I want
you all out of the wet clothes. Find everyone a shirt to wear, even
you, sweetheart. Need to get you warmed up."

I grabbed the phone and handed it to Edwin, ducking again at another
loud boom of thunder. "Edwin, if I'm not back in thirty minutes hit
redial. Kathy is a dear friend; she'll know what to do." I turned my
attention to the disappointed Edgar, apparently thinking he had
nothing important to do. "Edgar, I want you to keep everyone away from
the windows." I leaned closer to him and whispered. "You're in charge
of their safety, okay?"

The boys started to scramble, I suddenly yelled 'stop'. They froze in
their steps and turned to look at me. Such fear beamed from their
sadden eyes.

"I. I'm going to find Sandy." The noise from the storm made it hard
for me to speak, I was terrified, but had to be strong for these boys.
"I love you guys... I love you so much." I gave each one a kiss,
looking into their eyes with as much courage as I could muster. I
opened the door with out delay or thought. I had to find Sandy. The
rain pounded me as I made my way into the woods. I decided to retrace
my steps from early this afternoon.

"Sandy.Sandy!" I screamed, trying to compete with the roar of the
storm. Lightening blinded me; thunder followed without pause and shook
me to the bone. I held my arm above my head, trying to give some
protection to my head. "Sandy. Sandy!" I yelled again, with more
desperation in my voice. More lightening, I duck so quickly, that I
stumble and fall, my head slamming into a tree.



Headlights floated out of the darkness and lit up the nightmare.
Daniel didn't want light, only in the darkness was this a dream. A man
knelt over him telling him 'everything would be all right'. How could
he know that everything would be fine? Didn't he see the horror
surrounding them?

"What happened?" Daniel whispered. The stranger pressed his hand hard
on Daniel's forehead, wincing as he did. "Biggest fucking tornado I've
ever seen."

The bloodied boy, his voice weakening, begged once again for help.

"Help?" Daniel moaned, something triggering a memory locked away in
his scrambled brain. He pushed away the stranger's hand and looked at
the sad bloody boy again.

"Zach? Zachary is. is that you?"

"Mister, are you okay?" The man asked trying to keep Daniel from
moving.

"Let me go!" Daniel screamed and dragged himself towards the trapped
boy. "Get some help, please! Zachary. Zachary hang on, help is
 coming!" Daniel cried, wanting to touch the boy, but didn't want to
hurt him anymore than he already was.

"Hey mister. "The man grabbed Daniel by the shoulders and pulled him
away from the boy wrapped in jagged metal. "Who are you talking
too..Mister. that kid is dead." The man said. Daniel screamed again
and stared at Zachary. The illusion gone, with eyes too clear, he
looked at Zachary's lifeless body.



I'm not sure if I was unconscious. I found myself on the ground and
very wet. I shook off my stupor and yelled again for Sandy. I had to
find him, I failed Zach, but I wouldn't fail Sandy. Ahead of me, I
spotted the red bed sheet. "Sandy, please!" I yelled, with all hope
lost to me. I couldn't give up. I wouldn't lose Sandy too.

"Daniel? Daniel!" Sandy came running out of the clearing and wrapped
his arms around me. "I'm sorry Daniel. I'm so sorry." Sandy said as he
cried, his tears mixed with rain.

I knelt down and picked up the boy, holding him close to me, kissing
his cheek.

"Oh my sweet Sandy. sweet Sandy." My voice was only a whisper; it was
all I could manage at the moment.

"Daniel, we shouldn't have . have been so selfish." Sandy sobbed. "It.
it was wrong of us to ask you. you to be." It was all Sandy could say
before the tears consumed him. I hugged him tighter, ignorant of the
storm around us. There was no rain or lightening, it was just Sandy
and me. His body next to mine, we were one.

"No. No you weren't." I held him out so I could look into his eyes. "I
would be honored to be your dad. If you still want me?"

It was a look that would last me forever. A joy so powerful and whole,
that it filled my soul completely.

"I've always wanted you. only you." Sandy said.

 "Let's get out of this rain." I carried Sandy through the woods, his
eyes locked on me as if in a dream.

"Have you told the boys?" Sandy said.

"We'll tell them together. they're your brothers now, you know." I
said sniffing back a tear at how wonderful that sounded.

"My brothers." Sandy cheered. "My brothers and. my dad." He said
kissing my cheek.

"My son."

We entered the cabin, soaking wet. Jaron, Rudy, Edwin and Edgar
charged us with screams of joy.

"You found him!" Jaron yelled and jumped up in triumph. The boys were
all dressed in my too large t-shirts, which made me grin.

"I found him." I said and set Sandy down so his brothers could hug
him. I walked over to the kitchen table, grabbed a pen and opened the
scrapbook to the last page.

The cabin went silent as Sandy hushed them and pointed to me. They
watched as I signed my name to Rudy's drawing.

"The Caruso Family is now complete." I said slamming the book shut.

"We. we're a family?" Rudy said quietly.

"We are a family." I repeated. A scream of joy escaped their lips that
filled my world with heavenly delight. I was tackled to the floor and
smothered in kisses, five boys of extraordinary beauty. Five boys, I
now called my sons.

"Daddy. Daddy." The boys sang to me.

Fate led me here, guided me through pain and sadness to this moment
where I was needed, what I needed. I now walk the path of angels,
marching in song with my boys following. I walk the path of angels,
heaven sent, and graced by the name 'Dad'. My angels are Sandy, Rudy,
Jaron, Edwin and Edgar, and I walk their path now, guided by their
love, escorted by their joy. This isn't the end of my story, no. it's
only the beginning. My path is unclear, but I do not fear my journey,
I embrace it now. Though I hope that once we go to our home, I can
find a bathtub that fits five.

THE END